In an exclusive interview with News18 on Saturday, Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya , provided key insights into India’s sports policy, the new Sports Bill, and the country’s position on bilateral matches with Pakistan. On the topic of India vs Pakistan matches, Mandaviya clarified the government’s stance. He stated, “We are not playing cricket with Pakistan bilaterally. In multilateral tournaments, we have to follow the bond—no country can deny visas to athletes of another nation.” He emphasised that India will not allow any nation to win without a fight, asserting that the timely issuance of visas is a foundational rule under the Sports Bill. He added that the government aims to establish India as a global sporting hub with world-class, all-weather facilities, encouraging other nations to host tournaments in the country. India and Pakistan will not play any bilateral sport, but in multilateral events like the Asia Cup, we are required to adhere to the Olympic Charter: @mansukhmandviya, Union Sports Minister#AsiaCup #India #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/uHJRidDkB6 — News18 (@CNNnews18) August 23, 2025 Mandaviya highlighted the newly introduced Sports Bill as a historic and transformative piece of legislation, made possible by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted that while a draft for such a bill has existed since 1985, this is the first time it has become a reality. “This is historic as India has bid for the Olympics,” he said, linking the bill directly to the country’s aspirations on the global stage. The minister detailed the three core pillars of the Sports Bill: the Government, the Federations, and the Athletes. He underscored its athlete-centric nature, stating that the grievances of athletes would be addressed first. Under the new law, all sports federations, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), will be required to register with a new Sports Board. He clarified, “This is about transparency and good governance.” He also mentioned a plan to merge the Sports Authority of India (SAI) into the new Sports Board in the future. To ensure fair elections, a dedicated “Election Panel” will be established to monitor and oversee the process, ensuring that no matter who makes a mistake, ultimately, the country is not compromised. Finally, the minister announced a three-day celebration for National Sports Day from August 29 to 31, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand. The schedule includes a nationwide campaign on August 29, urging every citizen to spend one hour playing any sport. On August 30, conclaves on sports policy will be held in federations, schools, and colleges, and on August 31, every citizen is encouraged to ride a bicycle for one hour. Mandaviya concluded by saying these movements are a celebration of sports and a step towards a healthier nation.